Hola 👋🏼 I’m Flavia Cornejo, a Peruvian-American raised in New Jersey, but currently living in Portugal. During the pandemic I launched my travel blog, Latina Traveler, that focuses on solo female travel and life abroad. So far I’ve traveled to 37 countries, 32 US states, and lived in 8 countries to date.
My travel journey began at a young age with the first trip being to the motherland, Peru. My early travel years were similar to many other First Gen kids where I spent my summers visiting family back in my parent’s home country.
Before my 15th birthday, my parents gave me the option of having a Quince or going on a trip. I chose a 3 week trip with strangers throughout Europe (Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and England). It was the best decision I could have made and it changed the trajectory of my life.
After graduating university I remembered that Europe trip and recalled how we had trip leaders. That’s when I decided to apply to jobs where I could do the same so that I could get paid to travel. I was accepted and spent summers in Peru, Hawaii, and Costa Rica!
My love for travel only grew even more so when the pandemic hit, I stopped putting off my dream of starting a travel blog.
I had first heard of travel blogging back in 2013 when I attended my first Women’s Travel Fest. From that moment, I knew that would be my new dream and goal. I met women who were being paid to travel and write about their adventures on their own websites. These women would be paid for collaborating with brands and having ads on their sites and I knew that was what I wanted for myself.
But 22-year old me was not that confident or sure of herself. So even though I launched my first blog in 2014, I quickly let it die because it wasn’t ‘perfect’ or how I imagined it to be. Imposter syndrome and the unrealistic idea of perfection stopped me from wanting to make any mistakes so that eventually I could improve. Instead I stayed still.
On the other hand, 28-year old me was no longer the same person. I stopped giving myself excuses and decided it was now or never. It was time to go for my dreams.
When I officially launched my blog my main and only goal was to make passive income from it so that I could keep traveling on my own terms. That is still the long term plan, but in the meantime so many other amazing things have happened. I’ve:
Written articles for Fodor’s, Viator, and Business Insider
Been asked to speak at travel conferences: Latino Travel Fest and Women’s Travel Fest
Had virtual speaking engagements with The Nomadic Network, Latino World Travelers, and Globetrotting Dominicana
Been featured on over 15 different podcasts and in over 10 online publications
Launched my own group trips to travel with mi comunidad around the world
It has not been a straight forward journey and I’m sure there’s many things that I haven’t even thought about or considered that have yet to occur. I’m excited to see what the next chapter brings and to continue encouraging and inspiring women to travel solo with confidence.
Connect with Flavia online or in person by joining her group trips!
Blog - Latina Traveler
Instagram - @LatinaTraveler
TikTok - @LatinaTraveler
YouTube - @LatinaTraveler
Twitter: @LatinaTraveler_